The colourful activist would have spent 279 days behind bars for arms convictions when he leaves prison at the end of the month.
Tame Iti's son is feeling a different kind of love, to that normally expressed on St Valentine's Day. He's stoked to hear his dad will be released from Waikeria Prison within the next fortnight.
Toi Iti says, “dad will soon be back with the family.It's been a long road for us too it's dragged on for almost five years.”
Tame took to Twitter today expressing his joy at being able to return to his family after his appearance before the Parola Board.
The date for his parole has been set for the 27th of February in time for his iwi's biannual Easter festival. His son says, "he's very happy he's stoked that he'll now be able to make it to the Tühoe's Ahurei Festival."
On release,Tame will have served 8 months of his two-and-a-half year prison sentence imposed on himself and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara in May last year for arms offences.
The sentences came at the close of what many believe was one of New Zealand's most controversial trials.
Toi Iti says, “he's still Tame Iti, but he's spent 8 months in prison,so he's had time to reflect on things and look towards the future.He's not an entirely different person, but we are entering a new stage.'
Tame's lawyers are still working towards overturning his conviction in the Supreme Court.